Peter DeFazio
Peter DeFazio | |
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Chair of the House Transportation Committee | |
Incumbent | |
Assumed office January 3, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Bill Shuster |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon's 4th district | |
Incumbent | |
Assumed office January 3, 1987 | |
Preceded by | Jim Weaver |
Personal details | |
Born | Peter Anthony DeFazio May 27, 1947 Needham, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Myrnie Daut |
Education | Tufts University (BA) University of Oregon (MA) |
Signature | ![]() |
Website | House website |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Years of service | 1967–1971 |
Unit | Air Force Reserve Command |
Peter Anthony DeFazio (/dɪˈfɑːzioʊ/; born May 27, 1947) is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Oregon's 4th congressional district, serving since 1987. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes Eugene, Springfield, Corvallis, Roseburg, Coos Bay and Florence. He chairs the House Transportation Committee and is a founder of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. A native of Massachusetts and a veteran of the United States Air Force Reserve, he previously served as a county commissioner in Lane County, Oregon. He is dean of Oregon's House delegation.
Early life, education, and pre-congressional career[]
DeFazio was born in 1947 in Needham, Massachusetts,[1] a suburb of Boston.[1] He credits his great-uncle with shaping his politics; that great-uncle almost never said "Republican" without adding "bastard" (or "bastud", as it sounded in a Boston accent).[2] He served in the United States Air Force Reserve from 1967 to 1971.[3] He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts University in 1969[1] and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Oregon in 1977.[1]
From 1977 to 1982, DeFazio worked as an aide to U.S. Representative Jim Weaver.[1] He was elected as a Lane County Commissioner in 1983 and served as chairman from 1985 to 1986.[1]
U.S. House of Representatives[]
Elections[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Peter_DeFazio_105th_Congress.jpg/220px-Peter_DeFazio_105th_Congress.jpg)
In 1986, DeFazio ran for the U.S. House from Oregon's 4th congressional district, upon the retirement of incumbent Democratic congressman Jim Weaver.[1] DeFazio narrowly won a competitive three-way primary against State Senators Bill Bradbury and Margie Hendriksen, 34%–33%-31%.[4] He won the general election with 54% of the vote.[5]
DeFazio did not face another contest nearly that close until 2010, winning every election before then with at least 61% of the vote.[6] He has forged a nearly unbreakable hold on a district that is only marginally Democratic on paper. This is due almost entirely to the presence of his base in Lane County, which has almost half the district's population. The district narrowly voted for George W. Bush in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004 and supported Hillary Clinton by only 0.1 percentage point in 2016. In 2020, DeFazio defeated Alek Skarlatos by over 25,000 votes (5.4%). Pacific Green candidate Daniel Hoffay finished third with 2.2% of the vote.[7]
- 2008
DeFazio won 82% of the vote over two minor-party candidates.
Earlier, he reportedly considered and reconsidered running against Gordon H. Smith in the 2008 Senate election.[8][9][10] On April 20, 2007, DeFazio announced he would not run for Smith's seat.[11]
After Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, it was reported that DeFazio was under consideration for Secretary of Transportation.[12] U.S. Representative Ray LaHood was named to the post in December 2008.
- 2010
In 2010, DeFazio was challenged by Republican Art Robinson and Pacific Green candidate Michael Beilstein. As permitted by Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, a Super PAC group called The Concerned Taxpayers of America paid $300,000 for ads attacking DeFazio. It was not revealed until the mid-October 2010 quarterly FEC filings that the group was solely funded by Daniel G. Schuster Inc., a concrete firm in Owings Mills, Maryland, and New York hedge fund executive Robert Mercer, the co-head of Renaissance Technologies of Setauket, New York. According to Dan Eggen at The Washington Post, the group said "it was formed in September 'to engage citizens from every walk of life and political affiliation' in the fight against 'runaway spending.'" The only expenditures were for the ads attacking DeFazio and Democratic Representative Frank Kratovil of Maryland.[13][14][15][16]
DeFazio won with 54.5% of the vote, his lowest winning percentage since he was first elected in 1986.[17] The Oregonian said that DeFazio's reelection to his 13th term was notable more for the amount of outside money spent on the campaign than for the candidates themselves.[18]
- 2012
In September 2011, the National Journal cited DeFazio as an example of "swing-district Democrats seeking reelection in 2012", and who, in "begin[ning] to focus on their reelection bids after Labor Day...are increasingly calculating how close is too close to an unpopular President Obama." It also noted that DeFazio's district "nearly went for Republican George W. Bush in 2004."[19]
Redistricting made the 4th slightly friendlier for DeFazio. He picked up almost all of Benton County, including all of Corvallis, home to Oregon State University.
- 2020
DeFazio faced a challenge in 2020 from Alek Skarlatos, a former U.S. Marine and hero of the 2015 Thalys train attack. DeFazio won the election by 5.3 points, his narrowest victory since taking office.[20]
Tenure[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/PeterDeFazio.jpg/220px-PeterDeFazio.jpg)
DeFazio has a progressive voting record. In 1992, he co-founded the Congressional Progressive Caucus with Bernie Sanders, Ron Dellums, Lane Evans, Thomas Andrews, and Maxine Waters,[21] and was its chair from 2003 to 2005.
During the 1999 World Trade Organization meetings in Seattle, DeFazio marched with protesters who opposed the WTO's new economic globalization policies.[22]
Political positions[]
Immigration[]
In October 2011, DeFazio demanded that the U.S. Department of Labor strengthen restrictions on the hiring of foreign guest workers for forestry jobs intended for unemployed U.S. citizens.[23]
DeFazio issued a statement condemning President Trump's January 2017 executive order restricting visits to the U.S. from certain Muslim-majority countries.[24]
In January 2018, DeFazio's guest for the State of the Union Address was Jesus Narvaez, a "Dreamer", DACA activist, and member of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán (MEChA).[25]
In June 2018, DeFazio and other members of Congress from Oregon demanded that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) permit individuals held at a federal prison in Sheridan, Oregon, under the Trump administration’s "zero-tolerance policy" to make free telephone calls to arrange legal representation.[26][27]
Abortion[]
DeFazio supports legal abortion.[28]
Military[]
DeFazio has voted against legislation that would increase U.S. military power. In 2000, he voted against legislation to create a national missile defense network, calling the system a "comic book fantasy".[29] He has consistently voted against the Patriot Act, including its inception after 9/11 and the recurring reauthorization bills, arguing that it infringes on Americans' civil rights.[30] He also voted against the USA Freedom Act,[31] which reauthorized certain provisions of the Patriot Act in modified form. He voted multiple times to set an itinerary for bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq.[32]
Israel and Palestine[]
In 2015, DeFazio was one of 19 members of Congress to sign a letter urging Secretary of State John Kerry to "prioritize the human rights of Palestinian children living in the Occupied West Bank in the bilateral relationship with the Government of Israel." The letter called Israel's treatment of Palestinian children "cruel, inhumane and degrading" and an "anomaly in the world".[33][34] In 2017, he was one of 10 members of Congress to introduce a bill that would “require the Secretary of State to certify that United States funds do not support military detention, interrogation, abuse, or ill-treatment of Palestinian children".[35]
Financial[]
In 2008, DeFazio and Representative Pete Stark signed a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi proposing a 0.25% transaction tax on all trades in financial instruments, including stocks, options, and futures. Subsequently, DeFazio introduced the "No BAILOUT Act."[36][37]
Somewhat controversially, DeFazio declined to support the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, voting against it on February 13, 2009. He was one of only seven Democratic House members to vote against the bill.[38][39] DeFazio said that his vote was due to his frustration over compromises made to win support from moderate Republicans in the Senate. "I couldn't justify borrowing money for tax cuts", he said, referring to a bipartisan group's decision to cut funding for education and infrastructure initiatives he had supported in favor of steeper tax reductions.[40] He also advocated that the U.S. Senate change its cloture rules, doing away with the filibuster.[41]
DeFazio made headlines in mid-November 2009 when he suggested in an interview with MSNBC commentator Ed Schultz that Obama should fire Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers. "We may have to sacrifice just two more jobs to get back millions for Americans", DeFazio said.[42] The comment made top headlines at The Huffington Post.[43] DeFazio also suggested that a formal call by the Congressional Progressive Caucus for Geithner and Summers to be removed might be forthcoming. A year later he called for the impeachment of Chief Justice John Roberts because of the Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.
In 2009, DeFazio proposed a financial transaction tax.[44]
During his tenure, DeFazio has butted heads with fellow Democratic politicians, including Obama, on key Democratic legislation. In December 2010, he told CNN that the White House was "putting on tremendous pressure" about legislation extending the Bush tax cuts, with Obama "making phone calls saying this is the end of his presidency if he doesn't get this bad deal." White House spokesman Tommy Vietor told The Hill that Obama hadn't "said anything remotely like that" and had "never spoken with Mr. DeFazio about the issue".[45]
Occupy Wall Street[]
In August 2011, DeFazio said that Obama lacked the fight to follow through on ending the Bush tax cuts, citing the pressure placed on him by the Republicans.[46] DeFazio, Representative Dennis Kucinich and Senator Bernie Sanders said that it would be good for the Democratic Party if Obama faced a meaningful primary in which all the issues would be aired out.[47]
In October 2011, Think Progress noted that DeFazio was echoing the demands of the Occupy Wall Street protesters by proposing to tax the trading of stocks, bonds, and derivatives.[48]
Fuel prices[]
DeFazio opposed the Lowering Gasoline Prices to Fuel an America That Works Act of 2014 (H.R. 4899; 113th Congress), a bill that would revise existing laws and policies regarding the development of oil and gas resources on the Outer Continental Shelf.[49] The bill was intended to increase domestic energy production and lower gas prices.[50][51] DeFazio argued that the bill would not solve the true cause of high gas prices, which he blamed on "Big Oil in the United States and speculation on Wall Street".[50] DeFazio called the bill the "drill everywhere" bill.[51]
Committee assignments[]
Caucus memberships[]
- Animal Protection Caucus
- Bike Caucus
- Coast Guard Caucus
- Community Health Care Caucus
- Congressional Arts Caucus[53]
- Congressional Biomass Caucus
- Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus[54]
- Congressional Progressive Caucus[55]
- Healthy Forest Caucus
- House Small Brewer's Caucus (Founder and Co-Chair)
- Human Rights Caucus
- Indian Caucus
- Northwest Energy Caucus (Co-Chair)
- Organic Caucus (Co-Chair)
- Populist Caucus
- Pro-Choice Caucus
- Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus
- Rural Caucus
- Sportsmen's Caucus
- United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus[56]
- Veterinary Medicine Caucus[57]
- Waterways Caucus[58]
- Medicare for All Caucus
U.S. Senate elections[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Peter_DeFazio%2C_official_Congressional_photo_portrait.jpg/220px-Peter_DeFazio%2C_official_Congressional_photo_portrait.jpg)
1995[]
After Senator Bob Packwood resigned in early September 1995, DeFazio ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate in a special primary, losing to 3rd district Congressman Ron Wyden.[59]
1996[]
DeFazio had been mentioned as a possible candidate for the seat of Senator Mark Hatfield, who announced after the special primary election that he would not seek reelection in 1996. Faced with the prospect of having to take on well-funded millionaires in both the primary and general election, DeFazio announced in February 1996 that he would not run.[citation needed]
2008[]
DeFazio again considered running for the United States Senate. At the time he was considered a top-tier candidate, but he later defused such talk, citing seniority and monetary concerns about a potential campaign.[60]
Personal life[]
DeFazio is a member of the Roman Catholic Church. He and his wife, Myrnie L. Daut,[3] reside in Springfield.
Electoral history[]
See also[]
- DeFazio financial transaction tax
- National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive
- Continuity of Operations Plan
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g DeFazio's biography in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- ^ "Biography page at archive of DeFazio campaign site". Archived from the original on February 5, 2003. Retrieved 2017-12-14.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
- ^ Jump up to: a b "DeFazio's profile". Vote-smart.org. Archived from the original on 7 January 2007. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ^ "Our Campaigns – OR District 4 – D Primary Race – May 20, 1986". Ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ^ "Our Campaigns – OR District 4 Race – Nov 04, 1986". Ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ^ "Our Campaigns – Candidate – Peter A. DeFazio". Ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ^ Oregon Election Results: Fourth Congressional District. New York Times, November 12, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
- ^ Blake, Aaron (January 4, 2007). "Rep. DeFazio pulls name from 2008 Senate-bid speculations". The Hill. Washington, D.C. Retrieved 2007-03-12.
- ^ "OR-Sen: DeFazio beats Smith – DSCC poll". Dailykos.com. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ^ Dietz, Diane (April 3, 2007). "DeFazio ponders U.S. Senate run". Eugene Register-Guard. Retrieved 2007-04-03.
- ^ "DeFazio will not run for Senate". OregonLive.com. April 20, 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-20.
- ^ "Transportation's Obama Factor".
- ^ Karen Tumulty (September 25, 2010). "DeFazio tries to find out who is behind mysterious attack ads". The Washington Post.
- ^ Wealthy financier is mysterious funder of ads attacking DeFazio, Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian, October 15, 2010
- ^ Concerned Taxpayers group is powered by only two donors, Dan Eggen, The Washington Post, October 17, 2010
- ^ Scott Patterson and Jenny Strasburg (March 16, 2010). "Pioneering Fund Stages Second Act". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ "Our Campaigns – OR – District 04 Race – Nov 02, 2010". Ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ^
Charles Pope (November 2, 2010). "DeFazio overcomes Republican, outside money to win 13th term". www.oregonlive.com. The Oregonian. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
- ^ Alex Roarty and Beth Reinhard (1 September 2011). "Democrats Distancing Themselves From Obama". National Journal. Archived from the original on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
- ^ "Peter DeFazio". Ballotpedia.
- ^ "Caucus Members". Congressional Progressive Caucus. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ McINTOSH, DON. "Labor rally opens America's eyes to WTO". Labor Press. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ Pope, Charles (26 October 2011). "Rep. Peter DeFazio demands tighter rules, tougher oversight of foreign worker program". The Oregonian. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ "Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, others condemn Donald Trump refugee, immigration orders". The Oregonian. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ Baker, Diana. "DACA activist brings Dream to DC". The Torch. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ "OREGON CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION PRESSES ICE ON RIGHTS OF IMMIGRANT DETAINEES AT FEDERAL PRISON IN OREGON". merkley.senate.gov. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL5075". Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ^ Selsky, Andrew (October 26, 2020). "The former soldier running against DeFazio for Oregon's 4th congressional district". Statesman Journal. Associated Press. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- ^ "US Unfazed By Putin Comments On ABM". Space Daily. July 18, 2000. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- ^ David Sarasohn (February 10, 2011). "On Patriot Act, Congress lifts its own gag order". The Oregonion. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- ^ "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 224". Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ^ "Oregon Lawmakers Sound Off on President's New Plan For Iraq". Salem News. Jan 11, 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- ^ Abunimah, Ali (24 June 2015). "US Congress members demand end to Israel's "cruel" abuses of Palestinian children". The Electronic Intifada. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ Bery, Sunjeev (22 June 2015). "Did your Member of Congress Stand Up for Palestinian Children?". Amnesty International. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ Tibon, Amir. "Democrats Push Bill to Block U.S. Aid to Israel From Being Used to Detain Palestinian Minors". Haaretz. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
- ^ Nichols, John (30 September 2008). "The "No BAILOUTS Act"". The Nation. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
- ^ Hayes, Christopher (30 Sep 2008). "House Progressives Propose Bailout Alternative". The Nation. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- ^ "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 070". Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ^ "Page not found – TIME". Clerk.house.gov. Retrieved 17 April 2018. Cite uses generic title (help)
- ^ "The Progressive Gadfly: DeFazio Explains His 'No' on Stimulus". Tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- ^ Chu, Keith (February 11, 2009). "Education funds worth fighting for, say Oregon Democrats". The Bend Bulletin.
- ^ Stein, Sam (November 18, 2009). "Rep. DeFazio: Fire 'Timmy' Geithner". The Huffington Post and MSNBC.
- ^ "The Huffington Post". November 19, 2009.
- ^ Charles Pope (December 2009). "DeFazio calls for tax on financial transactions but critics abound". The Oregonian, OregonLive.com. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
- ^ Jordan Fabian (December 15, 2010). "Obama tells lawmakers not passing tax deal could end presidency, Dem says". The Hill. Washington, D.C. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
- ^ Pat Dooris (19 August 2011). "DeFazio says Obama lacks will to fight, may lose Oregon". Channel 8 News, Portland Oregon. Archived from the original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
- ^ John Nichols (January 12, 2012). "New Hampshire Results Point to a Notable Democratic Enthusiasm Gap". TheNation.com. Retrieved 15 June 2012. Cite magazine requires
|magazine=
(help) - ^ Marie Diamond (Oct 5, 2011). "Calling Wall Street A 'Gambling Casino,' Democratic Rep. DeFazio Proposes Financial Transactions Tax". Think Progress. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- ^ "CBO – H.R. 4899" (PDF). Congressional Budget Office. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Marcos, Cristina (26 June 2014). "House passes bill to increase offshore energy projects". The Hill. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Graeber, Daniel J. (27 June 2014). "House measure on gas aimed at lower prices". UPI. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
- ^ "Rep. DeFazio Elected Chairman of House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee". 2019-01-04. Archived from the original on 2019-02-27.
- ^ "Membership". Congressional Arts Caucus. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ^ "Members". Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
- ^ "Caucus Members". Congressional Progressive Caucus. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
- ^ "Our Members". U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. Archived from the original on 2018-08-01. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ "Members of the Veterinary Medicine Caucus". Veterinary Medicine Caucus. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- ^ "Caucus Membership". U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
- ^ "1995 Senatorial Special Election Results – Oregon". 5 Jan 2007. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
- ^ "Rep. DeFazio pulls name from 2008 Senate-bid speculations". 4 January 2007.
- ^ "Election Statistics, 1920 to Present". History, Art and Archives United States House of Representatives. United States House of Representatives Office of the Historian. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
External links[]
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- Congressman DeFazio official U.S. House website
- Peter DeFazio for Congress
- Peter DeFazio at Curlie
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Appearances on C-SPAN
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- 1947 births
- 20th-century American politicians
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- Catholics from Massachusetts
- Catholics from Oregon
- County commissioners in Oregon
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives
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- Living people
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Oregon
- Oregon Democrats
- Politicians from Needham, Massachusetts
- People from Springfield, Oregon
- Tufts University alumni
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- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Oregon